Cyclone Quiz Bowl finishes 2nd in Southside TournamentThe Russellville High School Quiz Bowl team recently competed against 40 teams in the Fort Smith Southside Invitational Tournament at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. The Cyclones finished second in the tournament with a 6-2 record. This was the final tournament for the Cyclones before the 6A West Region tournament. The Cyclones started the tournament with a convincing win over Hot Springs Lakeside by a score of 450-90. Game two was a ba...

School-based health center talk continues at DardanelleDARDANELLE — Discussion concerning a school-based health center continued during a called Dardanelle Board of Education meeting Friday at the administration office. Before making a decision on the pursuit of a grant for a school-based health center, board members agreed they wanted to know the estimated cost of renovations of the recently donated Centennial Bank building on Front Street. The bank building will eventually serve as the administr...

Love is at Royal Family CampForty Pope County children will have their lives changed this summer at Royal Family Kids Camp. The 11th annual weeklong camp will serve foster children ages 7-11. Although this special retreat will occur during the summer, preparation has already begun for organizers. The Celebration Banquet is set for Thursday at the Pottsville Assembly of God. Camp Director Debbie Young said the community is invited to the banquet to witness the accomplishm...

Zipper technique to be used on I-40LITTLE ROCK — A new merging technique will be used on Interstate 40 in Pope County, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials. The new merging technique, sometimes called the “zipper,” promotes merging closer to the closed lane. Additional signs will be placed to promote the use of both lanes up to the merge point and encourage drivers to take turns merging once they arrive at the merge point. The techn...

Johnson provided mayor's payDOVER — The Dover City Council voted Tuesday to set compensation for Mayor Pat Johnson at $1,200 a month starting in June, an increase of $1,000 over his present pay. Johnson reported to the City Council he would retire from his present full-time day job at Cogswell Motors in June and planned to devote significantly more time to city business. Councilman Roger Lee said if Johnson was to be “not a full-time, but a bigger part-time and not just ...

Keenan Field to see renovationsDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Board of Education approved plans for the renovation of Keenan Field at Dardanelle High School during a called meeting Friday at the administration office. With a $200,000 grant from Tyson Foods, the resurfacing of the track is one aspect of the renovations at Keenan Field. An updated drainage system, set of bleachers and visiting press box is also in the works after a unanimous vote from the school board. Board Pre...

Graham honored with Tourism awardPARIS — Russellville Advertising and Promotions (A&P) Director Christie Graham was honored with the Charlie Johnson Tourism Award during the Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Annual Membership Banquet Awards Celebration and Banquet Tuesday at the Paris Community Center. The 28th annual tourism award was given to Graham in honor of Charlie Johnson, who owned Booger Hollow Trading Post on State Highway 7. “He was a pioneer in spearheading ...

2 found dead identifiedPope County Sheriff Shane Jones said Friday that Miranda Harris, 34, and Clyde Daniel Harris, 32, were the deceased individuals found in a residence Tuesday on Double Springs Road on Crow Mountain. Their bodes were sent to the State Crime Lab in Little Rock as part of the ongoing investigation. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the residence at 11:16 a.m. Tuesday in regards to a man and woman who were found deceased and exhibited apparent ...

Road reflectors to be replaced in springIt’s an annual rite of passage — winter weather dumps snow and ice on area roads then city, county or Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) trucks do their best to get the icy leftovers off the roads so they’re safe for motorists. However, motorists will have to wait until it gets warmer, perhaps spring, before AHTD crews can replace the reflectors that help them at night. AHTD engineer Tommy Littleton said every year cre...

164 vote early in millage electionMore than 160 Dover residents voted early this week in the special election concerning a 3.2-mill increase to help fund a middle school construction project. The election is the Dover School District’s third and final try at the millage increase, which will fund a middle school that consists of 26 new classrooms, 10 renovated technology-ready classrooms, a safe room rated for an EF-4 tornado and a physical education center. Voters turned down ...

Dover's recent city audit leads to some questionsDOVER — Compensation for city elected officials was the heart of discussion during the Dover City Council meeting Tuesday. An issue pertaining to the State Audit Committee review of the city was discussed among council members and Mayor Pat Johnson. The auditor “found nothing of substance but did have a couple of little questions,” Johnson said. One of those questions centered on a resolution passed in 2007, which set a cap of $400 on health i...

Personnel Committee wants to talk it overOne day after the Russellville City Council’s Finance Committee voted to recommend Van Horn Construction as manager of the aquatic center project, the city’s Personnel Committee said not so fast. Personnel Committee members voted 3-0 Thursday inside City Hall to review proposals from five construction companies, three of which are local. However, Alderman and Finance Committee Chairman Mark Tripp said Friday that Resolution No. 1446, which was...

Bond hearings (March 6, 2015)The following individual appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. His name, age, anticipated charge and bond amount is listed. If charged, he will appear April 6 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Terry Linker, 56, domestic battery — $20,000. The Pope County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in London on Wednesday where Linker committed domestic battery on a woman, according to a recent police report. Li...

News Briefs (March 8, 2015)Marine Corps League meeting set Monday The Marine Corps League, Lake Dardanelle Detachment No. 1310, will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday at 411 N. Phoenix Ave. in Russellville. The location is below the new overpass on North Phoenix Avenue, on the northwest corner. All former or active Marines and FMF Corpsmen are invited to attend. For more information, call Kenneth Buchanan at (479) 264-1367, Bob Molden at (479) 967-5533 or visit www.mcl1310.com. ...

News Briefs (March 7, 2015)Election Commission to conduct testing The Pope County Election Commission will conduct logic and accuracy testing on all equipment and media used during the State Senate District 16 Special Election at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at Pope County Election Headquarters, located at 1509 E. Main St., Suite 7 in Russellville. Community Christian School Preview Night Community Christian School will host a Kindergarten Preview Night at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at ...

Graham honored at Tri-Peaks banquetPARIS — Russellville Advertising and Promotions (A&P) Director Christie Graham was honored with the Charlie Johnson Tourism Award during the Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Annual Membership Banquet Awards Celebration and Banquet Tuesday at the Paris Community Center. The 28th annual tourism award was given to Graham in honor of Charlie Johnson, who owned Booger Hollow Trading Post on State Highway 7. "He was a pioneer in spearheading ...

Road Department recycling position receives salary raiseA change in classification and pay scale for a clerical and recycle position at the Pope County Road Department was approved by the Pope County Quorum Court during its three-part meeting Tuesday at the courthouse. Judge Jim Ed Gibson requested the change in pay scale because of extra duties being assigned to the position in accordance with the county's recycling program. "What I'd like to do is change that to the same pay as a chief deputy. Ri...

Bond hearings (March 6, 2015)The following individual appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. His name, age, anticipated charge and bond amount is listed. If charged, he will appear April 6 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Terry Linker, 56, domestic battery — $20,000. The Pope County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in London on Wednesday where Linker committed domestic battery on a woman, according to a police report. Linker re...